Do you have an over-sensitive child? Does she feel sorry for herself way too often? How can you help her get off the 'pity potty?'

Let her know when bad things happen some self-pity is okay. It's the habit of holding on to 'poor me' thinking and recycling the thoughts over and over that will weaken her spirit and bring her down.

Tell her "Being upset is normal. Try not to repeat the thoughts that hurt you." You might add,

"Miserable thoughts may soothe you at the time but will harm you when you make them a habit. They are like “10,000 nasty trolls.” They can follow you into adult life and make you a very unpleasant person on both the inside and outside.”

Our parenting present today is my poem, 'Self-Pity Isn't Pretty.'It includes the problem and solutions. Ask your child to draw, memorize, or clip out and post it in a place where it will remind her to:

HELPING YOUR CHILD DEVELOP A POSITIVE SPIRIT is the greatest present you can give. When children make a habit of daydreaming about sad, angry, or anxious thoughts, they become weaker physically and emotionally.

Method for Experiencing the Difference between Positive and Negative Thinking

Ask your son or daughter to extend their arms from their sides outward (like airplane wings). Then ask them to think of a happy time while you press down with some firmness (not too much) on their arms. Next ask them to extend their arms again and tell them to think about a painful event in their lives. Press down again.

What happened? Were your kids stronger with the happier thoughts? Most people are.

Use this strategy to ask him what he learned. Then explain the power of positive thinking.

Today’s Happy Thinker Gift

Today’s present includes a special exercise for bringing your child’s mind back from negative daydreams to the present and then focusing on something positive. It's a simple 5-step process. Go through the steps with him as often as he needs. Each time you do, you will be taking advantage of your parenting privilege - guiding him toward better thoughts and feelings. You'll feel great about it too.

Be sure and download this gift. Add it to your binder to use whenever you need it.

NO PARENT WANTS THEIR CHILD TO EXPERIENCE EMOTIONAL DISTRESS. The phrase, “I feel your pain,” applies to most parents who also suffer when their kids are hurting.

Often moms and dads don’t know how to help their children. Some parents try too fast to get the hurting to stop. They might say, "Snap out of it!" or "Quit whining!" As a result, many children will whine and moan even louder to get heard. Or they might take their thoughts and feelings underground because they didn’t feel respected. This makes it even harder to help them.

It includes 2 parts, although often the practical solution in the first part may be enough.

By using these parenting techniques, you’ll be coaching your child about how to live life. This is the most important task you, as a parent, is privileged to teach. As a result, don’t be surprised if your child becomes a clear thinker. She’ll feel closer to you too.

Feel free to download this gift for parents and save it to a 3-hole binder to use whenever you need it.

IF YOUR CHILD DWELLS ON PAINFUL THOUGHTS, this video could help. You'll learn 5 methods for helping kids bounce back from upsets, difficulties, hurts, and failures.

You may already know that brooding can weaken your youngster’s spirit and attack her resilience. As a concerned parent, you can guide him. How? Aid him to see how “pity potty” thoughts destroy his positive energy to try, conquer, and succeed in dealing with challenges.

Some frustrated parents might try to shame their children into thinking positive. It doesn’t work. In fact, belittling makes things worse because put-downs become fuel for more brooding.

When you help your kids discuss problems with kind listening and respectful conversations, you become your children’s confidant. This is the perfect position for influencing their thoughts and helping them rise above self-pity.